After 16 busy weeks of classes filled with blog posts,
interviews and writing, the 2012 fall semester has finally come to an end.
My previous six blog posts have taught me a lot about being
a journalist. Unlike other assignments I have done in the past, these blog
posts provided a realistic situation of sharing my writing. Most of the posts
were assigned with tight deadlines, including this one. This provides
experience with writing quickly but also accurately. Uploading pieces to the
Internet puts pressure on writers because anyone can access their posts,
another aspect I hadn’t dealt with in other classes.
Overall, I enjoyed writing these blog posts because they
were different from other assignments I had previously done.
Reporting Contemporary Issues, the course at the University
of Northern Colorado that these posts are for, made me a better writer.
After reporting on the Greeley City Council meetings, the
Northern Colorado Empty Stocking Fund and the 2012 election, I gained valuable
experience with interviewing and writing. The more that I conduct interviews
and write stories, the easier it becomes.
To students that will be taking this class in the future, I
would recommend being aware of all deadlines and due dates. Unlike other
classes where you can cram for a test last minute, this class requires scheduling
interviews in advance and high-quality writing. As long as planning articles isn’t done
last minute, this class is very helpful and informative for any journalism
student.